A BURNLEY man with mental health problems died after taking half a wrap of heroin, an inquest heard.

An inquest at Burnley Magistrates' Court heard how Michael David Bancroft, 31, of Brownhill Avenue, died on December 16, 2006.

He had been in the company of his friend, Brian Wheelan, and had been using heroin, the inquest heard.

The inquest was told that Mr Bancroft was introduced to solvents by young boys at school.

He started taking cannabis at 16, before moving on to amphetamines. He was then referred to a psychiatric unit. Soon his mental health deteriorated.

In 1998 he was admitted to Guild Lodge - a mental health unit near Preston, where he was sectioned until 2001.

He had various trips to hospital in the following years.

Mr Wheelan, who knew Michael for a year, was with him the afternoon he died.

His statement read: "At 2.30pm I called at his flat. I took four bottles of cider and four £10 wraps of heroin. I noticed a washing-up bowl in the kitchen with vomit in it. He asked if we were having some drugs."

Mr Wheelan left the room and on his return, noticed Mr Bancroft had "taken half a wrap and fallen asleep".

He added: "I slapped his stomach but there was no response. I gave him mouth-to-mouth and heart massage."

Dr Abdul Al-dawoud, a consultant pathologist, said: "There was an amount of alcohol found in the blood and 580mcg of morphine. The amount that can cause death is 400mcg."

Coroner Richard Taylor recorded a verdict of accidental death.